Ventnor 8-32 Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight completed the double over local rivals Ventnor at Watcombe Bottom. Before a large attendance, IW laboured at times against committed opposition but gained supremacy in the closing quarter.
IW played into a considerable breeze in the first half and it was the hosts who started better, forcing a penalty which was converted into three points after six minutes. IW grew into the game from now on. In spite of the breeze, they established territorial supremacy, in no small part thanks to efficient backfield play by the back three of Ward, Rolfe and Jones-Evans. The IW scrum was also on top, though some loose kicking gave Ventnor oxygen at various times. The victors took the lead after 18 minutes – Luke Blackman appeared to have touched down under the posts, but the referee was unsighted and awarded a goal-line drop-out. It mattered little as IW ran the ball back and buccaneering second row Andrew Brown glided over from 15 metres.
The constant drizzle of the morning largely abated for this match, but it left the ball slippery and made life difficult for half-backs on both sides. IW’s defence was hungry and harassed Ventnor into a number of mistakes, but the score remained at 5-3 until just before half-time. The winners pieced together a dynamic series of phases, and generated an overlap for flanker Ed Lynch to touch down. His team led 10-3 at the break.
With wind advantage to come, IW seemed in an excellent position to push on and secure the win, though they lost scrum-half Finlay Lockhart to injury at half-time. However, Ventnor’s defence was game and courageous, while IW were guilty of some sloppy play at regular intervals. Early in the second half, a bizarre moment threatened to turn the game on its head. IW earned penalty advantage, and moving the ball wide, a loose pass was intercepted by Lines of Ventnor who raced clear to touch down. IW wondered what had happened to their advantage, but had to move on as they now only led by two points.
At this point, Ventnor tails were up and a momentum shift seemed likely. Though not playing fluently, IW dug in and some excellent tactical kicking by Jehane le Grange kept territory in their favour. IW were steadily now moving up a gear and several Ventnor infringements led to a yellow card for one of their number. After a long period of scoring stalemate, IW won a penalty, accurately kicked by George Huish to extend the lead to five points.
Ventnor were now dealt a blow when one of their forwards was shown a red card after what appeared a minor off the ball altercation. All the action was now taking place in their half, increasingly in the 22, and after some close driving play by the IW forwards, captain Blackman burrowed over for a critical score and an 18-8 lead.
The pressure was now off and IW played good rugby for the rest of the match, while the gallant Ventnor defence tired. IW now could focus on the bonus point fourth try and got it before long, though with a slice of fortune as a clear knock-on was not picked up in the build-up. Nevertheless, it was a memorable score for Biffa man of the match Dan Ward, who added some razzle-dazzle to his dependable full-back play as he slalomed from the 22 to score brilliantly under the posts. This was soon added to by Blackman’s second try. Huish converted the last two tries and IW celebrated a good if hard-fought win.
IW remain third in the league and look forward to resuming their promising campaign on 6 January, when both the club’s teams host Portsmouth RFC. Before then, the annual IWRFC Christmas charity match and raffle take place on Saturday 30 December (kickoff 2 pm), with proceeds going to support local rugby player Luke Orton.
IW: Ward, Jones-Evans, Huish, Rackett, Rolfe, le Grange, Lockhart, Newnham, Bennett, Keyes, Brown, A Martin, Lynch, Webster, Blackman. Replacements: Puzey, McQueen, C Browne.
